In a moment the Lord Chamberlain said courteously, as though regretful for his recent abruptness: 

“Well, my lord, shall we proceed?  It will be well for the Council to be assembled when Richard comes.”

“In truth, yes,” said Stanley suavely; and bowing stiffly to the two young Knights, the traitor of Bosworth linked arms with Hastings and went on toward the White Tower.

“Did you mark that?” De Wilton queried; “and evidently it was a matter of some moment since Hastings has submitted it to his wife.”

“There are more than royal prerogatives at issue these days,” replied De Lacy, “and private grievance may work deep into the greater game.”

“It will be the only way by which the Stanley can be led to bear a part,” said De Wilton sententiously.  “He savors more of the shops in the Cheap yonder than of Castle or Court.”

“And hence the pity that he has such power of rank and wealth behind him with his new Countess, the Beaufort heiress.”

“Aye—­and what is worse, in her and her son lie the last hope of Lancaster.”

“You mean the Earl of Richmond?” said Aymer.  “I saw him a year or more ago at the Court of Blois.  His appearance gave little promise of kingly blood or spirit.”

“Nathless, my good friend, our own Duke of Gloucester would give a few hides of land to have that same Earl safe within these walls.  York sits not firm on England’s throne while the Tudor lives in freedom.”

“It is a shrewd test of Stanley’s faith—­his step-fathership to this Richmond,” De Lacy observed.

“Of a truth, yes; and one that will find him wanting if the trial ever come.  Had not His late Majesty died so suddenly, this Margaret would have had a brood of treasons hatched ready for the occasion; and I doubt not that she and her adherents are, even now, deep in plottings with the Welsh and France’s King.”

“With Stanley’s knowledge?”

De Wilton’s only answer was a shrug and a jerk of his head toward the river.

“Here are two more of the Council,” he remarked; and the Duke of Buckingham came rapidly up the path in company with Lord Lovel.

“Are we late or early?” Buckingham called.

“Late for Stanley and Hastings and their reverences of York and Ely,” said Aymer, “but early for the Lord Protector.”

“Did the Chamberlain and Stanley come together?” Lovel asked.

“They did, my lord.”

“And their humor?”

“Not the most sympathetic.  They were not entirely agreed about some matter the Lord Hastings had submitted to his Countess, and that she had decided, seemingly, against Stanley’s wishes.”

“It is the old matter of the Neville sisters that cropped up even in Bonville’s time,” said Buckingham.  “The more Stanley urges that now, the better it will fit our purpose.  Come, let us stimulate the dispute if occasion offer,” and with a sarcastic laugh he turned away.